Card index



Oct. 5 1926.

Patented Oct. 5 1925.

warren STATES ROBERT C. RUSSELL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARD INDEX.

Application filed October 29, 1924. Serial No. 746,638.

This invention relates to improvements in visible card index devices, and more particularly to an improved card holding device,- one object of the invention being to provide simple and eflicient means for firmly se curing cards or strips normally against displacement in'a frame or holder,but which may be readily operated to release the cards or strips and permit their adjustment or the removal of any of them and the insertion of new cards or strips.

l/Vith this object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section showing an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View with the parts in clamped positions.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view with the parts in unclamped positions.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line intermediate the ends of the device.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing one of or element which may be employed.

The card or strip holder comprises an elongated frame 1 which may be conveniently made of sheet metal and provided at one end with a flange 2 at right angles to the bottom of the device,-the rear or inner end of the frame having a vertical flange 3 and a horizontal flange 4 providing a housing for parts of the operating mechanism and from this housing, an inclined platform 5 projects forwardly to hold the first few cards in proper position when cards such as shown in Figure 7 are employed. The sides of the device are provided with elongated housings 6 to enclose clamping rollers 7 and the inner walls 8 of these housings terminate slightly above the bottom of the frame or holder to provide openings 9 through which the strips 10 or the projecting portions of a support 11 for cards 12 may be passed so as to become disposed under the clamping rollers 7. Each roller 7 is provided at its respective ends with journals 13 which are located eccentrically'and are mounted in the flanges 2 and 3 of the frame or holder. To the journals 13 at the inner ends of the rollers 7 crank arms 14 are secured,for which purpose said journals may have angular portions'and the crank arms made with angular openings to conform to the angular portion of the journals, or said crank arms may be keyed to the journals if desired. Located centrally within the'housing formed by the flanges 3 and 4 is a standard 15 to whichan operating lever 16 is pivotally attached intermediate of its ends. This operating lever may be L-shaped and its shorter arm mounted between its ends on the standard 15 while the longer arm of said lever forms a finger 17, the free end portion of which normally rests in a depressed seat 18 in the flange 4, said flange having an elongated slot 19 for the accommodation of the lever finger. The respective ends of the short arm of the operating lever are connected by means of rods 20 with the crank arms 14 of the clamping rollers respectively.

WVith my improvements, the ends of strips 10 or the end portions of card supports 11, may be readily slipped through the openings 9 so as to become disposed under the clamping rollers 7 when the latter are in the positions shown in Figure 3. When the clamping rollers are. in positions to permit the insertion of the strips or card supports, the operating lever finger 17 will be disposed in an approximately upright position as shown in Figure 3, and when the strips or card supports shall have been placed in position, the operator will move the operating lever from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in FigureQ, when the finger 17 will become flush with the upper face of the flange 4: and the clamping rollers will have been moved, through the medium of the crank arms 4, rods 20 and the short arm of the operating lever in a manner to clamp the end portions of the strips or card supports against the bottom of the frame or holder.

WVith my improvements, the cards or strips will be normally held securely against displacement but by raising the operating lever, said cards or strips will be released so that they may be readily removed or replaced by others.

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Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A card holding device, comprising a frame, eccentrically mounted clamping rollers near respective sides tl16lGOTf,,C1L11l arms projecting from said rollers, an operating lever, and rods connecting said crank arms with the operating lever.

2. card holding device, comprising a frame, eccentrically mounted clamping rollers adjacent to respective sides thereof, crank arms connected with said rollers, an operating lever having a part pivoted between its ends, and rods connecting respective ends of said lever part with the respective crank arms on. the clamping rollers.

3. A card holding device, comprising a frame having elongated housings at its side edges, the inner walls of said housings terminating above the bottom of the frame forming openings for the insertion of end portions of cards or strips, said frame also having a housing at one end, clamping rollers eccentrically mounted in said elongated housings, crank arms on said rollers at one end thereof, an operating lever having a part pivotally mounted within the end housing and a part accessible from the exterior of said housing to facilitate operation of said lever, and rods connected with said lever at respective sides of its pivotal mounting and with the crank arms of the respective clamping rollers.

4. A card holding device, comprising a frame having elongated housings at its sides and a housing at one end, the latter having an elongated slot and a depressed seat, clamping rollers in the elongated housings, an operating lever mounted in the end housing and having a part passing through the slot of said end housing and adapted to rest in the depressed seat thereof, and rods connecting said operating lever with the clamping rollers.

In a card holding device, the combination of a frame, clamping rollers eccentrically mounted near side portions of, the frame, an operating lever mounted near one end of the frame and operatively connected to the clamping rollers, and a manually operable part for said operating lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

' ROBERT C. RUSSELL. 

